Sheet material building construction



Dec. 14, 1937. J J wH 2,102,247

SHEET MATERIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Marne;

1937- J. J. WHELAN 2,102,247

SHEET MATERIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 4, 1935 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorneys Patented Dec. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,102,247 sneer MATERIAL ammo. CONSTRUC- non John J. Whelan, Washington, D. 0., assignor to Copper Houses, Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of Maryland Application October 4, 1935, Serial No. 43,577

7 Claims. (01. 189-34) This invention relates to an improvement in buildings having wall .areas of sheet-material such, for instance,- as copper, brass, etc., though other suitable sheet-materials may be employed 5 if desired.

One of theobjects of the present invention is to provide a superior building construction in which wall areas of sheet-material may be so employed as to result in both attractiveness and.

economy. Y

A further object isto provide a sheet-material building construction having superior means for attaching sheet-metal panels to the supporting structure. 7

A- further object is to provide a building structure which includes a plurality of panels of sheet-material which are coupled together in, a simple, reliable and effective manner.

-A still further object is to provide a structure 20 of the class referred to, in which panels of sheetmaterial may be attached to the supporting structive in a manner which will preclude, to an effective degree, the passage of moisture through the joints. 1

A still further object is to provide a building construction having panels efiectively secured in place in such manner as will avoid the undue marring of their exposed surfaces.

With the above and other objects in view, as

will appear to those skilled in the art from the following,,considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims, the present invention includes all features disclosed therein which are novel over the'prior art. In the accompanying drawings: 1 Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a house constructed in accordance with the present invention;

40 Fig. 2 is a broken horizontal-sectional view taken on any one of the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical-sectional view taken on any one of the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fragment of 45 one of the coupling-bars; 4 I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the cou-" pllng-bolts;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the panel- .units;

50 Fig. 7 is a broken horizontal-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing a modified construction with the attaching-clip being shown prior to clamping the coupling-bar; v

Fig. -8 is a similar view, showing the clipas 55 bent to clasp the coupling-bar;

. Figs. 7, 8 and 9;

' corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing still ancorresponding to Fig. 2, but showing another form Fig. 9 is a broken vertical-sectional view taken on the line'99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a fragment of the coupling-bar of the construction shown in Fig. 11 is a perspective view of-one of the clips of the structure of Figs. '7, 8 and 9;

Fig. 12 is a broken horizontal-sectional view other form which certain features of the present 10 invention may assume;

Fig. 13' is a fragmentary view of one edge of the panel-unit employed in the structure of Fig. 12; I

li'ig. 14 is a perspective view of a fragment of u the coupling-bar of the structure of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a fragment of one of the key-rods oi the structure of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a broken horizontal-sectional view which the present invention may assume;

Fig. 17 is a broken vertical-sectional view taken on the line I1-|'| of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a fragment'of 5 the coupling-bar of the structures of Figs. 16 and 17.

Houses or other buildings embodying the present invention may assume a wide variety of forms,

but the residence chosen for illustration in Fig. 1

of the accompanying drawings has the vertical front wall of its first story provided with windows 20-20, respectively located onthe opposite sides of a main entry 2|, and a chimney 22.

The second story is, as shown, also provided with a window 23.

Figures 2 to 6 inclusive The vertical walls of the first and second stories of the building are composed of a series of vertically-extending panels 24, formed of sheet-material such, for instance, as copper, and having their adjacent side edges arranged inclose prox imity to provide a substantially-continuous surface.

Each panel 24 is formed on its respective opposite edges with a reversely-bent coupling-flange 25 (Fig. 6) and preferably has cemented or otherwise secured to its back-surface a substantially-coextensive backing-slab 26 of sounddeadening and heat-insulating material. The said backing-slabs 26 may be composed of fiberboard, for instance, or other suitable material. and it has been found that they may be conveniently cemented in place to the back surface of 55 the panels 24 by means of waterglass, asphaltum, or the like. I

Located back of the junction point of any given two of the panels 24 is a vertical couplingbar, generally designated by the numeral 21, and having a pair of inturned coupling-flanges 28'- 28 producing a vertically-extending flange-receiving channel 29 of V-shaped form in cross-section. The said coupling-flanges have their inner faces respectively reversely sloped to correspond to the reversely-bent coupling-flanges 2525 of the panels 24 and are entered into the flange-receiving channel 29, as indicated particularly well in Fig. 2' of the accompanying drawings.

The vertically-extending coupling-bars 21 may be conveniently formedof extruded brass and each is provided in its rear portion with a longitudinally-extending T-shaped attaching-groove 30, separated from theflange-receiving channel 29 by a wall 29 and adapted to receive the rectangular heads 31 of. a series of attaching-bolts 32, each of which is adapted-to pass through the front flange 33 of the adjacent one of a series of vertical channel-iron studding 34. The said studding are horizontally spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the width of panels 24 and serve as studding for the building. Each attaching-bolt 32 also passes through a wedgeshaped washer 35 and has applied to its threaded inner end a nut 36, the tightening of which lat- .;er serves to draw the coupling-bar 21 into firm engagement with the outer face of the front fl4ange 33 of the adjacent one of the said studding 3 The heads 3| of 'the coupling-bolts 32, as particularly well shown in Fig. 5, are preferably of a' width such as to permit their ready lateral introduction into the bolt-receiving groove 30 of each coupling-bar through the contracted inner throat-portion 30" of the groove.

The mode of sealing the upper, and lower ends of the various panels 24 may vary widely, depending upon circumstances, architectural treatment, etc., and may, for instance-be accomplished as shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 33,951, flled July 31, 1935.

To the inner face of the channel-iron studding 34 may be secured, in any approved manner, plaster-board 31 or other suitable material, to receive plaster-coat 38. If desired, the inner walls of the building, instead of being plastered as shown, may obviously be formed of panels 24 and, if desired, the space between the inner and outer walls may be filled with mineral wool, or other insulating and sound-deadening material.

A series of panels may be coupled together by the coupling-bars 21 before the said couplingbars are secured to the studding 34 or, 11' desir'ed, the said coupling-bars may be lightly attached in place by means of the attaching-bolts Fling-flanges. 28-28.

32, and the various panels "interleaved," so to speak, with the said coupling-bars by passing them longitudinally over the complementary cou- After the coupling-bars are firmly clamped to the studding by means of the coupling-bolts 32, the various panels 24 will be firmly held in place with capacity for longitudinal expansion and'contraction inasmuch asthe flanges 25 of the panels may slide with respectto the coupling-flanges 23 of the said coupIing bar.

Furthermore; by virtuerof the-wall interposed between the v-shaped flange-receiving channel 23 and the '-shaped bolt-receiv ng groove '30 of the coupling-bar 21, the access of water to the interior of the wall structure is effectively precluded. The said channel 29 will serve to downwardly conduct such water as may enter thereinto between the respective edges of adjacent panels. Such water may be drained off of the lower end of each of the drainage-channels 29 of the coupling-bars in any suitable manner, requiring no detailed description herein.

Figures 7 to 11 inclusive clips 46 (Fig. 11) may be employed. Each of the said clips includes a central web 41 having extending rearwardly from its rear face a lug 48 having a threaded bore 49 therein. Extending rearwardly from the opposite sides of the central web 41 are bearing-flanges 5050 respectively, the inner ends of which bear against the front flange 33 of. the studding .34. Extending forwardly from" the opposite sides of the central web 41 of each clip 46 are L-shaped clamping-arms 5l--5|, each of which has a rearwardly-facing anchoring-ledge '52 adapted to engage with one of I the forwardly-facing anchoring-ledges 45 on the coupling-bar. I The anchoring-clip 46 may be formed of extruded metal severed into suitable lengths and prior to installation has its complementary 'clamping-arms 5|-5I separated to a. suflicient degree to permit the coupling-bar to be entered between the said arms, as indicated in Fig. 7. Thus, a pair of adjacent panels 40 may be coupledtogether by the coupling-bar '42 and the said coupling-bar may then be entered between the arms 5|5|." Now, by tightening an attaching-bolt 53 extending outwardly through the front flange, 33 of the studding 34 and into the threaded bore 49 of the said clip, the latter may be distorted so as to cause its clamping-arms 5I--5l to move inwardly and engage with the anchoringledges 45 on the respective opposite sides of the coupling-bar, as indicated in Fig. 8, whereupon the coupling-bar 42, and hence the panels 40, become firmly anchored to the supporting structure.

Preferably and as shown, the panels 40 are each backed by a slab 54 of sound-deadening and heat-insulating material secured thereto in any approved manner and acting, in addition to providing thermal insulation, to eflectively deaden such resonance as the said panels might otherwise possess.

Figures 12 to 15 inclusive In the structure illustrated in the figures just above listed, a coupling-bar 55 of substantially U-shaped form in cross-section is secured to the outer face of the frpnt flange 33 of a studding 34 h .a wedge-shaped washer 51 and a suitable nut 58.

which the conical heads of the screws 56 are adapted to set so as to have the outer faces of the said heads substantially flush with the bottom wall 60 of the coupling-bar.

Each coupling-bar is, as before stated, of sub- I stantially U-shaped form in cross-section and includes, in addition to its bottom wall 60, opposed side-fianges 6l6|, each of which is formed on its inner face with an inwardly-opening 1ongitudinal coupling-groove 62 of substantiallysemicircular form in cross-section and adapted to receive a portionl'of a key-rod or wire 63 which in the structure illustrated is of circular form in cross-section.

Each panel 64, instead of having integral inturned coupling-flanges as in the constructions previously described, has a plain edge and has secured to the inner face thereof, by brazing, soldering, or other suitable means, a couplingflange bar, of substantially L-shaped form and generally designated by the numeral 65. In the inner lateral face of its rearwardly-projecting leg 66, each coupling-flange bar is formed with a. coupling-groove 61 of substantially-semicircular form in cross-section, and positioned so as to be diameter into each of an opposed pair of the cou-v pling-grooves 62 and 61. As will be obvious by reference to Fig. 12, when the key-rods 63 are in place as shown. the adjacent edges of the panels are firmly locked in place to the (supporting structure, with capacity, however, for being conveniently removedby withdrawing the said keyrods longitudinally.

Figures 16 to 18 inclusive In the building structure shown in these figures of the drawings, the panels 69 of sheet-material tionship forwardly thereof by fiat-headed screws wedge-shaped washer 11.

14, each of which extends 'rearwardly. through the inner wall 15 of the coupling-bar, through aspacing-block I6 interposed between the said inner wall andthe outer face of the flange 33 and through the said front flange and through a The threaded inner end of the said screw has a nut 18 applied thereto which bears against the said washer TI.

The conical head 19 of the screw 14 is seated V in one of a series of conical countersinks formed in the inner wall 15 of the coupling-bar 12 at spaced intervals. To permit the front-torear introduction of the 'screw I4 through the coupling-bar 12, the coupling-flanges ll-ll of the said bar are notched as at 8| to permit the passage of the said head during the installation of the screw. Preferably and as shown. each panel 69 is backed up by. a slab 82 of heat-in sulating and sound-deadening. material.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various panels are conveniently and effectively secured to the supporting structure and hence connected to each other. It will furthermore be seen that provision is made for permitting the longitudinal expansion and contraction of the panels to a degree suflicient to prevent undesirable buckling thereof. It will also. be seen that should any water enter between the adjacent edges of a given pair of panels, such waterwill be prevented to an effective degree from entering the interior of the wall structure. 1 v

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: f

1. A house or like structure including in combination: a supporting framework; a couplingbar adapted to be secured to the said supporting framework and having both a longitudinal flange-receiving channel and a longitudinal attachinggroove therein; attaching-means entered into the longitudinal coupling-groove of the said coupling-bar and anchoring the same to-the said supporting framework; and a pair of panels of sheet-material arranged with their edges adjacent and each having an offsetting couplingflange entered into the flange-receiving channel of the said coupling-bar and coupled with one of the boundary walls thereof.

2. A house or like structure including in combination: a supporting framework; a couplingbar adapted to be secured to'the said supporting framework and having both a longitudinal flangereceiving channel and a longitudinal attachinggroove therein, the said channel and groove being separated from each other by a substantiallyimperforate-wall; attaching-means entered into the longitudinal coupling-groove of the said coupling-bar and anchoring the same to the said supporting framework; and a pair of panels of sheet-material arranged with their edges adjacentand each having an offsetting couplingflange entered into the flange-receiving channel of thel said coupling-bar and coupled with one of the boundary walls thereof.

3. A house or like structure including in combination: a supporting framework; a couplingbar adapted to be securedto the said supporting framework and having two opposed couplingfianges thereon providing a flange-receiving channel therebetween, and also formed with a longitudinal attaching-groove; attaching-means engaged with the longitudinal coupling-groove of the said coupling-bar and attaching the same to the said supporting framework; and a pair of panels ofsheet-material each having an oil'- setting coupling-flange' entered into the flangereceiving channel of the said coupling-bar and coupled with onerof the coupling-flanges thereof.

4. A house or like structure including in combination: a supporting framework; a couplingbar adapted to besecured to the said supporting framework and having two opposed coupling- 75 same to the said supporting framework; and a pair of panels of sheet-material each having an offsetting coupling-flange entered into the flangereceiving channel of the said coupling-bar and coupled with one of the coupling-flangesthereof.

5. A house or like structure including in combination: a supporting framework; a couplingbar adapted to be secured to the said supporting framework and having two opposed couplingfianges thereon providing a flange-receiving channel therebetween, and also formed with a longitudinal attaching-groove, the inner walls of the respective coupling-flanges being sloped outwardly and toward each other; attaching-means engaged with the longitudinal coupling-groove of the said coupling-bar and attaching the same to the said supporting framework; and a pair of panels of sheet-material each having an offsetting coupling-flange entered into the flange-receiving channel of the said coupling-bar and coupled with one of the coupling-flanges thereof.

6. A house or like structure including in combination: a supporting framework; a couplingbar adapted to be secured. to the said supporting framework and having two opposed couplingflanges thereon providing a flange-receiving channel therebetween and also formed with a longitudinal attaching-groove, separated from the said drainage-channel by a substantially-imperforate wall, the inner walls of the respective coupling-flanges'being sloped outwardly and toward each other;. attaching-means engaged with the longitudinal coupling-groove of the said couplingbar and attaching the same to the said supporting framework; and a pair of panels of sheet-material each having an offsetting coupling-flange entered into the fiange-receiving channel of the said coupling-bar and coupled with one of the coupling-flanges thereof.

'7. A house or like structure including in combination: a supporting framework; a couplingbar adapted to be secured to the said supporting framework and having on its outer face two opposed longitudinal coupling-flanges providing a flange-receiving channel, therebetween and pro vided on its inner face with two opposed substantially L-shaped longitudinal attaching-flanges providing a coupling-groove therebetween; at-

taching-means engaged with the L-shaped attaching-flanges of the said coupling-bar and attaching the same to the said supporting framework; and a pair of panels of sheet-material, each having an offsetting coupling-flange entered into the flange-receiving channel of the said couplingbar and coupled with one of the coupling-flanges thereof.

JOHN J WHELAN. 

